🙂A single person spends $709 per month in Da Nang vs $868 in Santa Cruz, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,083 per month in Da Nang vs $1,448 in Santa Cruz, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,457 per month in Da Nang vs $2,027 in Santa Cruz, rent included.
🙂Da Nang is about 18% cheaper than Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Da Nang and Santa Cruz are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang47% lower, Santa Cruz35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96₫51.7K
$7.44JMD 1,172
-73.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.87₫496.8K
$63.3JMD 9,961
-70.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.57₫120.3K
$8.76JMD 1,379
-47.83%
Cappuccino
$1.58₫41.5K
$4.35JMD 685
-63.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54₫14.2K
$1.35JMD 213
-60.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31₫8,182
$0.71JMD 112
-56.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.02₫26.9K
$2.44JMD 384
-58.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60₫42.1K
$3.16JMD 498
-49.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36₫35.9K
$4.44JMD 699
-69.37%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95₫24.9K
$3.61JMD 569
-73.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.12₫29.4K
$1.58JMD 248
-29.11%
Eggs
$1.41₫37.1K
$3.58JMD 564
-60.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.49₫328.8K
$10.92JMD 1,719
14.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.59₫94.6K
$6.53JMD 1,029
-45.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.74₫256.4K
$7.57JMD 1,192
28.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.74₫72.2K
$5.93JMD 934
-53.79%
Banana(1kg)
$0.98₫25.9K
$3.01JMD 474
-67.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.11₫29.3K
$4.14JMD 653
-73.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.07₫28.1K
$3.01JMD 475
-64.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14₫30.1K
$2.09JMD 330
-45.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21₫32.0K
$1.99JMD 314
-39.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04₫27.4K
$2.97JMD 468
-64.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49₫12.8K
$1.48JMD 233
-66.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.37₫36.0K
$8.88JMD 1,398
-84.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.73₫203.5K
$11.15JMD 1,756
-30.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₫21.1K
$2.87JMD 452
-72.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60₫42.1K
$3.10JMD 488
-48.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34₫8,979
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.86₫101.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.89₫23.5K
$1.11JMD 175
-19.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75₫19.7K
$3.09JMD 487
-75.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.01₫316.1K
$6.36JMD 1,001
88.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91₫24.0K
$1.23JMD 194
-26.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K₫719.5M
$42.8KJMD 6.7M
-36.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K₫756.4M
$33.4KJMD 5.3M
-13.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.0₫2.0M
$161JMD 25.4K
-53.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.98₫157.5K
$21.95JMD 3,457
-72.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.32₫219.0K
$51.8JMD 8,162
-83.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.20₫531.7K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.63₫200.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.11₫82.0K
$13.26JMD 2,087
-76.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152₫4.0M
$227JMD 35.7K
-32.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.7K₫335.5M
$2,505JMD 394.4K
408.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.99₫1.0M
$25.76JMD 4,057
51.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.81₫679.4K
$25.96JMD 4,087
-0.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$53.2₫1.4M
$70.2JMD 11.1K
-24.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.2₫2.0M
$76.2JMD 12.0K
1.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$355₫9.4M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$246₫6.5M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$739₫19.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$451₫11.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,753₫98.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,295₫34.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$348₫9.2M
$401JMD 63.1K
-13.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.67
9.15
16.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Da Nang: July 20, 2026
Last update for Santa Cruz: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 15% higher in Santa Cruz, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Da Nang versus $63.0 in Santa Cruz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $351 – making Da Nang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Da Nang vs Santa Cruz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Da Nang and in Santa Cruz compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $709 in Da Nang, $868 in Santa Cruz – roughly 22% apart. Santa Cruz costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Da Nang compared to Santa Cruz?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,064 per month in Da Nang and $1,303 in Santa Cruz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Da Nang or Santa Cruz?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $709 in Da Nang and $868 in Santa Cruz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Da Nang and Santa Cruz?
Kindergarten costs $152 per month in Da Nang and $227 in Santa Cruz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Da Nang compared to Santa Cruz?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $709 in Da Nang and $868 in Santa Cruz, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Da Nang and Santa Cruz?
It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $709 in Da Nang to $868 in Santa Cruz. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Da Nang or Santa Cruz safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Da Nang and Santa Cruz?
If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Cruz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.